Remote printing systems and methods for portable digital devices

ABSTRACT

To facilitate the use of portable digital devices such as cell phones, printer processing stations are proposed for printing the information that is accessible through the portable digital devices. In general, the portable digital devices have easy access to an enormous amount of information but are equipped with a relatively small display screen without an on-board printing capability. To solve the above dilemma, readily available printer stations allow the user to print a selectable portion of the information at one of the predetermined locations and conveniently charge the user for a print fee.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The current invention is generally related to systems and methods ofprinting information from portable digital devices, and moreparticularly related to systems and methods of printing information atconveniently located printer stations from digital devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of portable digital devices has already widespread and appearsto gain further popularity in the future. The portable digital devicesinclude portable computers, cellular phones, personal handyphone systems(PHS), and personal digital assistances (PDA) such as a Palm™. Theportable digital devices are used to keep information such as schedules,addresses, phone numbers as well as to communicate through voice anddata. With the recent explosion of the Internet, the portable digitaldevices are capable of accessing e-mail as well as web sites. Forexample, in Japan, Nippon Telephone and Telegram (NTT) offers thei-mode™ which allows the portable digital devices such as cell phones toaccess the web sites for information, on-line shopping, ticketreservations as well as fund transfers.

Despite the above described convenient services, the portable digitaldevices generally suffer some shortcomings. One of them is a lack ofprinting capabilities. In fact, the portable digital devices fail tosupport any print driver and are not equipped with a printer connector.The lack of a print capability is further complicated by a large amountof information to be displayed at certain web sites and a small displayon the portable digital devices. The small display cannot show a largeamount of information at a time, and a user is not able to understandthe information in an efficient manner. The small displays also cannotshow graphical information at a reasonably high resolution. For example,a user cannot read a detailed map on a small display on the portabledigital device. Furthermore, the portable digital device does not allowthe user to open a certain attached file in e-mail. Because of thesereasons, it appears necessary to print accessed information so that theuser fully and efficiently utilizes the accessed information.

Instead of carrying a printer to print the information accessed througha portable digital device, it is desirable to print the informationusing one of a plurality of printer stations placed at predetermined orremote locations. In other words, as public phones are widely availablefor use for a fee, it is desired that public printers should be alsowidely available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above and other problems, according to a firstaspect of the current invention, a method of printing information from aportable digital device, including:

providing printer processing units at predetermined locations; selectingone of the printer processing units for a portable digital device of auser; establishing a connection between the portable digital device andthe selected one of the printer processing units; selecting printableinformation; obtaining the printable information via the portabledigital device; printing the printable information at the selected oneof the printer processing units; and charging a fee for the printing tothe user.

According to a second aspect of the current invention, a system forprinting information from a portable digital device, including: a basestation for managing information; a portable digital device wirelesslyconnected to the base station on demand for receiving and transmittingthe information including printable information; and printer processingunits located at predetermined locations for establishing a temporaryconnection with the portable digital device, the selected printerprocessing unit offering an interface for selecting the printableinformation, the printer processing unit obtaining a selected portion ofthe printable information via the portable digital device, the printerprocessing unit printing the selected portion of the printableinformation, the printer processing unit charging a fee for printing theselected portion of the printable information.

According to a third aspect of the current invention, a method ofretrofitting an existing image duplicating device into a remote printerprocessing unit, including: providing an information processing unit tothe existing image duplicating device for processing information as wellas interfacing inputs and outputs to an operator; connecting acommunication unit to the existing image duplicating device forinputting and outputting the information to and from another locationvia a portable digital device; and adding a charge unit to the existingimage duplicating device for processing a charge for a service relatedto printing a certain portion of the information.

According to a fourth aspect of the current invention, an apparatus forremotely printing desired information on demand, including: a userinterface unit for inputting information indicative of at least adesired location in a computer network and for outputting theinformation; a communication unit connected to said user interface unitfor obtaining content data from the network based upon the information;a processing unit connected to said communication unit and said userinterface unit for processing print data based upon the content data; aprint unit connected to said processing unit for printing the print dataon an image-carrying medium; and a charge unit connected to said userinterface unit and said processing unit for charging a fee for theimage-carrying medium according to a predetermined formula.

These and various other advantages and features of novelty whichcharacterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a betterunderstanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtainedby its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form afurther part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, inwhich there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a concept of the printer systemaccording to the current invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating one preferred embodiment of the printerprocessing unit or the print station according to the current invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating one preferred embodiment of theportable digital device according to the current invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second preferred embodiment of theprinter processing unit according to the current invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating one stage of one preferred embodimentof the user interface screen on the display unit in the printerprocessing unit according to the current invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another stage of the preferredembodiment of the user interface screen on the display unit in theprinter processing unit according to the current invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates one exemplary list of payment methods supported bythe printer processing unit according to the current invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating one exemplary user interface foridentifying a user before printing information according to the currentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating acts involved in one preferredprocess of identifying a user according to one aspect of the currentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating acts involved in a second preferredprocess of identifying a user according the current invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating exemplary contents of a user profilethat is used in the preferred remote print-and-charge process accordingto the current invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating exemplary contents of a printerstation profile that is used in the preferred remote print-and-chargeprocess according to the current invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating one exemplary user interface forselecting a desired category of information to be printed according tothe current invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating one exemplary user interface forselecting a desired e-mail to be printed according to the currentinvention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating one exemplary user interface forselecting desired optional print parameters according to the currentinvention.

FIG. 16A is a diagram illustrating a print preview of a graphic image atthe predetermined low resolution level.

FIG. 16B is a diagram illustrating a print preview of the same image atthe predetermined high resolution level.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating one preferred embodiment of theaccounting or profit distribution sub-system of the print-and-chargesystem according to the current invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating exemplary transactions between aprepaid card issuer and a prepaid card retail store.

FIG. 19 illustrates an exemplary print out with a bar code indicating anamount of cash payment for a print fee according to the currentinvention.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart illustrating acts involved in a preferredover-all process of printing at the printer processing unit accordingthe current invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designatecorresponding structures throughout the views, and referring inparticular to FIG. 1, a diagram illustrates a concept of the printersystem according to the current invention. A plurality of printerstations or printer processing units 11A through 11N is placed atvarious predetermined locations or point of sales (POS) 1 through N suchas a train station, a convenient store, a gas station and an airport foreasy access. Each of the printer processing units 11A through 11N is aself-contained unit that can be customized depending upon apredetermined set of specifications. It is also possible to retrofitexisting coin-operated digital photocopier machines into one preferredembodiment of the printer processing units 11A through 11N according tothe current invention by adding a certain set of components such as acommunication unit, a charge unit and a processing unit. However, ingeneral, each of the printer processing units 11A through 11N isequipped to interface with a predetermined set of portable digitaldevices such as a hand-held communication device including a cell phone21 as well as to communicate through the Internet 4. The interface orconnection between the hand-held communication device 21 and the printstation 11A includes a cable connection as indicated by a solid line ora wireless connection as indicated by a dotted line. If the cellularphone 21 subscribes to an Internet service, it communicates to its basestation 13 in order to access the Internet.

Through the Internet, the printer processing units 11A through 11Naccess a desired web site 6, a predetermined accounting server 5 as wellas a password protection server 7. A desired web site 6 is specified viaa user interface of the printer processing units 11A through 11N and isaccessed to gain information for printing. One of the purposes of theaccounting server 5 is to keep track of necessary information foraccounting profit between the operator of the printer processing units11A through 11N and the store owners where the printer processing units11A through 11N are placed. The accounting server 5 also keeps track ofgeneral statistical information on the use of the printer processingunits 11A through 11N for service or maintenance. These above describedinformation is periodically transmitted to the accounting server 5 fromthe printer processing units 11A through 11N. Alternatively, theaccounting server 5 receives the information from the printer processingunits 11A through 11N on demand.

Now referring to FIG. 2, a diagram illustrates one preferred embodimentof the printer processing unit or the print station 11 according to thecurrent invention. The preferred embodiment includes a communicationcontrol unit 118 for interfacing with a portable digital device such asthe cellular phone 21; a control unit, a central processing unit (CPU)or a digital signal processor (DSP) 111 for controlling variousfunctions or units of the printer processing unit 11; a read only memory(ROM) 115, a random access memory (RAM) 116 and a disk storage 120 forstoring information such as data and programs to perform the variousfunctions; a display unit 113 for interfacing with a user and an inputunit 114 for interfacing with a user of the printer processing unit 11;a print unit such as a color laser printer or a color ink jet printer112 for printing a selected or specified information by the user; and acharge unit 117 for charging a fee for printing the selectedinformation. The communication control unit 118 interfaces the input andthe output ports for serially transferring data.

Still referring to FIG. 2, in general, the user temporarily connects hisor her a portable digital device to the above described preferredembodiment of the printer processing unit 11 according to the currentinvention for printing a desired set of information that is alreadystored in the portable digital device 21 or that is to be obtainedthrough the portable digital device 21. After the user selects thedesired set of the information to be printed through the display unit113 such as via graphic user interface (GUI) and the input unit 114 suchas a touch-screen, the control unit 111 prepares the selectedinformation for printing and sends the selected information to the printunit 112 through the use of the ROM 115 and the RAM 116. In printing theuser selected information, the control unit 111 accesses the data storedin the disk 120, and the data includes user profile information as wellas printer profile information for limiting certain print activitiessuch as a maximal number of copies that a particular user and or aparticular printer processing unit is allowed to make per print sessionover a predetermined time period. The profile data will be furtherexplained below. After the specified printing is complete, the chargeunit 117 charges the user a fee for printing the selected informationthrough a predetermined payment method. However, the charge unit 117 ofthe preferred embodiment indicates the fee and a predetermined set ofpayment methods to the user on the display unit 113 before printing, andthe user selects the preferred method of payment via the input unit 114.

Now referring to FIG. 3, a diagram illustrates one preferred embodimentof the portable digital device 21 according to the current invention.The preferred embodiment includes a communication control unit 219 forinterfacing with a printer processing unit 11; a control unit or acentral processing unit 211 for controlling various functions or unitsof the portable digital device 21; a read only memory (ROM) 217 and arandom access memory (RAM) 218 for storing information such as data andprograms to perform the various functions; a display unit 215 and aninput unit 216 for interfacing with a user of the portable digitaldevice 21; a voice input unit 213 such as a microphone and a voiceoutput unit 212 such as a speaker for inputting and outputting voicesignals; and a transmission/reception unit 214 for receiving andtransmitting information to and from the portable digital device 21.Although the ROM 217 contains certain software programs for providingvarious functions and coordinating various units of the portable digitaldevice 21, no printer driver is contained in the portable digital device21. The RAM 218 has an independent and alternative battery power supplyand stores certain information such as addresses, telephone numbers,book marked universal resouce locators (URLs) or web addresses and amemory calling list.

Still referring to FIG. 3, in general, the user temporarily connects theabove described portable digital device 21 to the printer processingunit 11 according to the current invention for printing a desired set ofinformation that is already stored in the portable digital device 21 orthat is to be obtained through the portable digital device 21.

The temporary connection is either via a cable or wireless communicationsuch as an infrared. After the user selects the desired set of theinformation to be printed through the display unit 215 and the inputunit 216, the control unit 211 prepares the selected information forprinting and sends the selected information to the printer processingunit 11 through the use of the RAM 116. In accessing the user selectedinformation, the control unit 211 accesses the desired data through thetransmission/reception unit 214.

Referring to FIG. 4, a diagram illustrates a second preferred embodimentof the printer processing unit 31 according to the current invention.The second preferred embodiment includes a communication control unit118 for interfacing with a portable digital device such as the cellularphone 21; a control unit or a central processing unit 111 forcontrolling various functions or units of the printer processing unit11; a read only memory (ROM) 115, a random access memory (RAM) 116 and adisk storage device 120 for storing information such as data andprograms to perform the various functions; a display unit 113 and aninput unit 114 for interfacing with a user of the printer processingunit 11; a print unit 112 for printing a selected or specifiedinformation by the user; and a charge unit 117 for charging a fee forprinting the selected information. The second preferred embodimentadditionally includes an Internet connection control unit 119 forcontrolling the direct Internet connections between the print processingunit 31 and a desired web server.

Still referring to FIG. 4, in general, the user temporarily connects hisor her a portable digital device to the above described second preferredembodiment of the printer processing unit 31 according to the currentinvention for printing a desired set of information that is alreadystored in the portable digital device 21 or that is to be obtainedthrough the portable digital device 21. Alternatively, in the secondpreferred embodiment, the printer processing unit 31 directly obtainsdesired information from a web site that the user specifies through theinput unit 114. After the user selects the desired set of theinformation to be printed through the display unit 113 and the inputunit 114, the control unit 111 prepares the selected information forprinting in the RAM based upon a predetermined format and sends theselected information to the print unit 112 through the use of the ROM115 and the RAM 116. In printing the user selected information, thecontrol unit 111 accesses the data stored in the disk 120, and the dataincludes user profile information as well as printer profile informationfor limiting certain print activities such as a maximal number of copiesthat a particular user and or a particular printer processing unit isallowed to make per print session. The profile data will be furtherexplained below.

After the specified printing is complete, the charge unit 117 chargesthe user a fee for printing the selected information through apredetermined payment method. However, the charge unit 117 of thepreferred embodiment indicates the fee and a predetermined set ofpayment methods to the user on the display unit 113 before printing, andthe user selects the preferred method of payment via the input unit 114.

For example, the charge unit accepts a prepaid card. Prior to printing,the charge unit 117 determines a printing fee or charge for the currentprint job. Then, the charge unit 117 reads a prepaid card and determineswhether or not there is a sufficient amount of unused fund available onthe prepaid card for the above determined print charge. The unused fundmay be represented in a predetermined unit. If the charge for each pageis 2 units and three pages are to be printed, the total print charge is6 units. Assuming that the prepaid card holds 10 units, the charge unit117 sends a signal indicative of proceeding the above printing to theprint unit 112 and records the remaining 4 units on the prepaid cardbefore dispensing it to the user. Finally, information on the aboveprint job such as a number of print outs and print time is kept for therecord in the RAM 116 or the disk 120.

Referring to FIG. 5, a diagram illustrates one stage of one preferredembodiment of the user interface screen on the display unit 113 in theprinter processing unit 11 or 31 according to the current invention. Thepreferred user interface includes information on what can be printedusing the printer station in the upper half and some advertisement inthe lower half. The lower portion of the print station display unit 113shows any predetermined advertisement while the print stations 11 and 31are waiting for use. The user is able to touch a certain area of theadvertisement to receive additional information. The advertisement isoptionally shown to the user also throughout the use of the printstations 11 and 31. The upper portion shows that a user has a choice ofprinting e-mail, web site contents or data base contents such as atelephone directory. In addition, the user is provided with a choice ofthe display in a foreign language such as Japanese. In order to initiateprinting, the user touches a screen surface area corresponding to adesired language and “start.”

Referring now to FIG. 6, a diagram illustrates another stage of thepreferred embodiment of the user interface screen on the display unit113 in the printer processing unit 11 or 31 according to the currentinvention. This stage of the user interface indicates that the user issupposed to establish a connection between a portable digital device andthe printer processing unit. The temporary connection is made via aconnection cable or an infrared wireless connection. After theconnection is established, the user is asked to select a preferredpayment method. One example of a payment method is cash. The charge unit117 determines an amount of a print charge and indicates the amount onthe display unit 113. The charge unit 117 further includes a cashaccepting unit and monitors an amount of deposit in the cash acceptingunit. The display unit 113 provides necessary messages including theprint charge amount, the deposited amount, the remaining amount afterprint and a change amount. Although the illustration shows a deposit ofa coin, the preferred user interface additionally provides other paymentoptions.

One example of such a list of payment methods is shown in FIG. 7. Theuser is asked to select one of the predetermined methods that include acharge to a credit card, a cash payment at a check out line or a casherat the point of sales where the print stations are located, a cashpayment into a cash accepting machine, a charge to a predeterminedaccount for printing, use of a prepaid card and a charge to a mobiletelephone billing account. If a credit card or a prepaid card isselected, the user is asked to swipe the card on a card reader of thecharge unit 117 at this stage. Furthermore, the charge unit 117 furtherincludes a card writer to record a remaining amount on the prepaid cardafter charging. Similarly, if a predetermined account such as a print ormobile telephone account is selected, the user has to input acorresponding account number and a certain predetermined validationcode. Alternatively, a key card contains the identification informationfor the charge account in lieu of inputting the information. For the useof the mobile telephone account, the phone number is read into the RAM116 from the portable digital device 21 that is connected to the printstation 11, 31. The print charge along with the phone number is latertransmitted to the corresponding carrier telephone company so that thecell phone user is ultimately charged for the printing. The telephonecompany retains a predetermined portion of the print charge for handlingand transfers the rest to the operator of the print station. Lastly, ifa cash payment method is selected, at this stage of the preferred userinterface, no user identification may be required.

Referring to FIG. 8, a diagram illustrates one exemplary user interfacefor identifying a user before printing information according to thecurrent invention. Depending upon the selected payment method, it isnecessary to identify the user via a validation code or personalidentification number (PIN). If a predetermined print charge account isselected for payment, in one implementation, information on the useridentification and or the corresponding account number is stored in aportable digital device that has been temporarily connected to the printstation and the information is automatically retrieved from the portabledigital device. Then, the user is simply asked to input a PIN code viathe touch-screen user interface. In another implementation, the user hasto input both a user identification number and or an account numberfollowed by a PIN to validate a proper use prior to printing. Althoughthe exemplary user interface shows only numerical input buttons, otherinput buttons such as alphanumeric keys are also within the scope of thecurrent disclosures. Another use for identifying a user is to accesscertain information applicable to the user. The information is used tolimit the user in performing certain aspects of printing. In addition,the user identification is optionally used to restrict a number of usersor to confirm a pre-approved membership for using the print stations.

Referring to FIG. 9, a flow chart illustrates acts involved in onepreferred process of identifying a user according to one aspect of thecurrent invention. In act S1, assuming that the portable digital device21 as shown in FIG. 3 has been temporarily connected to the printstation 11 or 31 as respectively shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the printstation 11 or 31 retrieves information stored in the portable digitaldevice 21 in act S1. The information includes at least useridentification (ID) and a PIN code or a password for the user ID. Afterreceiving the above information, the print stations 11 and 31 prompt auser to input a PIN code or a password and waits for the input in actS2. Upon receiving the password input, the print station 11 or 31compares the inputted password to the retrieved password in act S3. Ifthe comparison in the act S3 confirms a match, a requested print processproceeds in act S4. On the other hand, the comparison in the act S3fails to confirm a match, the user identification process ends.Alternatively, the negative match in the act S3 leads to the act S2 towait for receiving another password. The alternative user identificationprocess repeats the password comparison acts S2 and S3 for apredetermined number of times before ending the process.

Referring to FIG. 10, a flow chart illustrates acts involved in a secondpreferred process of identifying a user according the current invention.In act S11, assuming that the portable digital device 21 as shown inFIG. 3 has been temporarily connected to the print station 11 or 31 asrespectively shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the print station 11 or 31retrieves information stored in the portable digital device 21 in actS11. The retrieved information includes at least user identification(ID). In addition, in act S12, the print station 11 or 31 furtherretrieves a PIN code or a password for the user ID from a predetermineduser information server that is connected to the print station 11 or 31.The user information server stores additional information such as userprofile information as will be further described below. After receivingthe above information, the print stations 11 and 31 prompt a user toinput a PIN code or a password and waits for the input in act S13. Uponreceiving the password input, the print station 11 or 31 compares theinputted password to the retrieved password in act S14. If thecomparison in the act S14 confirms a match, a requested print processproceeds in act S15. On the other hand, the comparison in the act S14fails to confirm a match, the user identification process ends.Alternatively, the negative match in the act S14 leads to the act S13 towait for receiving another password. The second alternative useridentification process repeats the password comparison acts S13 and S14for a predetermined number of times before ending the process.

Now referring to FIG. 11, a diagram illustrates exemplary contents of auser profile that is used in the preferred remote print-and-chargeprocess according to the current invention. In general, the user profileis created for a given user and contains certain predeterminedinformation for processing a print request from the particularindividual. One exemplary user profile includes information on a maximalnumber of copies or prints that the particular user is allowed to makeper a predetermined time frame such as each print session and or acertain set of functions that he is allowed to use. In addition, theuser profile information includes a maximal amount of time allowed for aparticular user during one print session as well as a time period suchas time of the day or day of the week when a particular user is allowedto use a print station. Furthermore, the user profile optionallyincludes cyberspace information such as a user's e-mail address and bookmarks for web sites. The user profile information is stored in a localdisk storage unit at the print processing unit 11 or 31 or in a centralserver that the print processing units 11 and 31 share. Alternatively,the user profile information of a particular individual user is storedin a portable digital device 21.

Referring to FIG. 12, a diagram illustrates exemplary contents of aprinter station profile that is used in the preferred remoteprint-and-charge process according to the current invention. In general,the printer station profile is created for a given printer station andcontains certain predetermined information for processing a printrequest from the particular individual. One exemplary printer stationprofile includes information on a maximal number of copies or printsthat any user is allowed to make per each print session and or a certainset of functions that the printer station offers. In addition, theprinter station profile information includes a maximal amount of timeallowed for any user during one print session. The printer stationprofile information is stored in a local disk storage unit at the printprocessing unit 11 or 31 or in a central server that the printprocessing units 11 and 31 accesses. When the above described printerstation profile is used in combination with the user profile informationand there is a conflict between the two sets of information, accordingto one preferred process, the printer station profile preempts the userprofile.

Referring to FIG. 13, a diagram illustrates one exemplary user interfacefor selecting a desired category of information to be printed accordingto the current invention.

One example of the touch-screen menu selection offers “e-mail,”“telephone directory” or “web-site contents.” In general, information isdownloaded from the Internet according to a selected choice. When thee-mail option is selected, the e-mail contents are retrieved via theportable digital device 21 or directly by the printer stations 11 or 31from an e-mail address that is specified in the user profile informationaccording to one implementation.

As described above, the user profile contains cyberspace informationincluding an e-mail address. If the user profile includes more than onee-mail address, a user selects one of them from a displayed list.Similarly, a telephone directory is accessed based upon certaininformation in the user profile. Alternatively, a generic telephonedirectory is accessed, and the user inputs additional search informationfor retrieving a certain telephone number. Lastly, the web site contentinformation is also retrieved based upon book marked information in theuser profile or an additional input.

Referring to FIG. 14, a diagram illustrates one exemplary user interfacefor selecting a desired e-mail to be printed according to the currentinvention. One example of the touch-screen menu selection offers a listof e-mail whose entries are identified by the sender and the date. Inaddition, the existence of an attachment to e-mail is indicated. Toselect one or a series of e-mail to be printed, the user simply touchesthe e-mail item, and the selected item is now highlighted. In thisexample, “e-mail 3 from Miss C” has been selected. The attachment isoptionally and independently selectable. To display a long list ofe-mail entries, the user touches up and down triangular buttons forscrolling respectively upwards and downwards. In order to select aplurality of e-mail items, the above described process is repeated. Tobrowse the content of the selected e-mail, the user quickly touches theselected item twice as if double clicking, and the content of the e-mailis displayed for confirmation. Lastly, to cancel or clear the selecteditems, the user touches a cancel/clear bottom at the lower left corner.

Still referring to FIG. 14, after the e-mail items are selected, theuser optionally determines print parameters such as a desired format ofa print out as well as a number of copies. The print parametersgenerally include an output format and a number of copies, and these twoparameters are displayed at the bottom of the exemplary user interface.For the print format, a default print format such as 11×8 is displayed.In order to change the print format, the user must touch a format buttonand an additional user interface will appear to select another printformat. To specify a number of copies to be printed, the user firsttouches the number indicator area to invoke a numeric pad screen andspecifies a desired number via the numeric pad screen. Based upon thespecified number of print outs and the selected print format, an amountof a fee or cost for printing is indicated in the fee area. At thispoint, the user can proceed to print by touching the print button orarea at the lower right corner of the user interface. In addition to theabove described print parameters, the user optionally can specify otherprint parameters that are not displayed on the user interface. Tospecify the additional print parameters, the user touches the otheroptions button at the bottom of the user interface.

Referring to FIG. 15, a diagram illustrates one exemplary user interfacefor selecting desired optional print parameters according to the currentinvention. One example of the touch-screen option menus includes a printformat. In this example, two print formats are offered for printingtelephone directory entries. To select a desired print format, the usertouches a screen area corresponding to the desired print format. Inaddition to a print format, although the exemplary diagram does notshow, the size and the direction of paper are optionally selectable.Depending upon the selected print options and parameters, the print feemay be updated to reflect the selections.

Referring to FIGS. 16A and 16B, diagrams illustrate print previews ofone exemplary image for selecting an additional optional print parameteraccording to the current invention. One example of the touch-screenoption menus includes a resolution level. In this example, two printresolution levels are offered for printing a graphic image. To select adesired resolution level, the user touches a screen area correspondingto the desired resolution level. According to one example, theresolution levels are either high or low. FIG. 16A illustrates a printpreview of a graphic image at the predetermined low resolution level.Not only the detailed of a graphic image is lost, but also that of thetextual image is lost. FIG. 16B illustrates a print preview of the sameimage at the predetermined high resolution level. For example, the highresolution is provided at 1200 dots per inch (DPI), 36 gradations and256 colors. Both graphical and textual details are see in the previewimage. The implication of the resolution option is significant incertain application such as printing maps. The resolution optiontherefore accesses the image of a desired resolution from an addressreferenced by a particular URL. Depending upon the selected printoptions and parameters, the print fee may be updated to reflect theselections.

To simplify the implementation of the resolution option, a web sitecontent server stores an image at a predetermined resolution levels atdifferent addresses or URL's. For example, the URL for a high resolutionimage is:

-   -   “http://www.domain_name/printer.html&high_resolution=http://www.doma        in_name/printer_p.html&print_charge=$0.75”        The URL indicates the image is store at        http://www.domain_name/printer.html&high_resolution while the        charge information for the high resolution is $0.75 per print.        Similarly, the URL for a corresponding low resolution image is:    -   “http://www.domain_name/printer.html&low_resolution=http://www.domai        n_name/printer_p.html&print charge=$0.25”        The URL indicates the image is store at        http://www.domain_name/printer.html&low_resolution while the        charge information for the low resolution is $0.25 per print.        Thus, the URL is read into the RAM to extract certain        information in determining a print charge. Furthermore, the URL        is designed to include information on a requester, and the        content server keeps a list of registered users. Thus, the        content server decides whether or not the request is allowed        based upon the registration upon each access.

FIG. 17 illustrates one preferred embodiment of the accounting or profitdistribution sub-system of the print-and-charge system according to thecurrent invention. The print stations 11 and 31 are connected to apredetermined processing center 45 for periodically reporting relevantidentification and financial data including a predetermined printstation identification number, an total sales amount and so on.Furthermore, the identification information includes a charge accountinformation for each individual or group and the corresponding printcharge information. According to one scheme, participants in the profitdistribution include a print station owner, a print location operatorsuch as a retail store operator who has the print station on thepremises, and a prepaid card issuer/distributor who sells prepaid cardsfor using the print stations. The processing center 45 processes thereported data and calculates a profit distribution amount for each ofthe participants based upon a predetermined agreement. The profitdistribution amounts are reported to a financial institution 47 such asa bank for electronic deposits or wiring. The financial institution 47makes the calculated deposits respectively to a prepaid card issueraccount 43, a retail store account 41 and a print station owner account49. Furthermore, if the prepaid card issuer has not paid the retailstore owner and the print station owner the predetermined percentage ofthe prepaid card sales amount, the prepaid card issuer now makesdeposits to the retail store owner and the print station owner basedupon an agreement.

The above described profit distribution sub-system is only exemplary,and there are numerous variations. For example, the store owners may ownor lease the print stations. Another example of the variations is thatthe prepaid card issuer pays the store owners and the print stationowners commissions at a fixed rate before the profit distributions.Furthermore, the print stations 11 and 31 also send charge informationto charge accounts that the user specify as a preferred payment. Forexample, if the user specifies to charge the print fee to a mobiletelephone account, the print stations 11 and 31 send the chargeinformation to the processing center 45. In turn, the processing center45 requests the payment from the corresponding telephone companies, thetelephone companies then make payments to the financial institutions 47.

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary transactional diagram between a prepaidcard issuer 50 and a prepaid card retail store 52. According to thisexemplary scheme, the prepaid card issuer 50 manufactures anddistributes prepaid cards to the prepaid card retailer 52. Upondelivering the prepaid cards, the prepaid card issuer 50 pays theprepaid card retailer 52 some predetermined commission. After theprepaid cards are sold, the prepaid card retailer 52 pays thecorresponding prepaid card sales amount. Needless to say that the retailstore where the print station is located can sell the prepaid cards asthe prepaid card retailer 52.

FIG. 19 illustrates an exemplary print out with a bar code indicating anamount of cash payment for a print fee according to the currentinvention. The print out includes information such as a cell phonenumber, a memory dial list, a redial number list, a book mark list, ae-mail address list and a function list that are stored in a cell phone.This print out also illustrates that the user has selected a cashpayment at a register of the retail store where the print station islocated. The bar code at the lower right indicates the amount of a printfee that needs to be paid at a cash register.

Referring to FIG. 20, a flow chart illustrates acts involved in apreferred over-all process of printing at the printer processing unitaccording the current invention. Some of the following acts areimplemented through the user interface that have been described in theabove. In act S100, advertisement is displayed on a screen of theprinter processing unit 11 or 31 while it is waiting for a customer touse the printer processing unit. The advertisement space can be sold toany body at a predetermined rate. In act S102, a portable digital device21 is temporarily connected to the print processing unit 11 or 31. Theconnection is made either by a cable or wireless means. According to thepreferred process, the user has to enter a user ID and a validation codeor a password in act S104 after the connection is made in the act S102.The user ID and the matching password are stored at a predeterminedlocation such as the portable digital device 21, the printer station 11or 31 or a centrally located server. The user inputted ID and passwordare matched against the predetermined information in act S106. If thematch fails, the user is asked to enter the correct information in theact S104 for a predetermined number of trials. When the predeterminednumber of the trials is exhausted, the preferred process cancels thefurther acts and returns to the act S100.

Still referring to FIG. 20, the preferred process proceeds when the userinputted ID and the password match the predetermined information in theact S106. In act S107, a list of printable information is displayed tothe user. One exemplary list includes categories such as e-mail and webdirectories, and the list further includes entries of the selectedcategory. According to one preferred process, the user is allowed tobrowse the content of the selected item for an additional fee in actS108. After confirming the content by browsing, the user selects an itemor entry to be printed in act S110. The user optionally selects morethan one item to be printed at the same time. After selecting the items,the user now specifies how the selected items are to be printed in actS112. The user inputs print parameters that include a size of a printout, the number of copies and a resolution level. Finally, the preferredprocess requires the user to specify a payment method from apredetermined set of choices in act S114. The payment choices include acash payment, a charge/credit card payment, a prepaid card payment andso on. Upon confirming the way to settle the print charge, the preferredprocess executes the printing in act S116 and subsequently charges thefee based upon the selected payment method in act S118. The user is ableto continue the preferred process of the print and charge by going backto the act S107 in response to a prompt in act S120. Otherwise, thepreferred process terminates.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and that although changes may be made in detail, especially inmatters of shape, size and arrangement of parts, as well asimplementation in software, hardware, or a combination of both, thechanges are within the principles of the invention to the full extentindicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which theappended claims are expressed.

1-58. (canceled)
 59. A method of retrofitting an existing imageduplicating device into a remote printer processing unit, comprising:providing an information processing unit to the existing imageduplicating device for processing information as well as interfacinginputs and outputs to an operator; connecting a communication unit tothe existing image duplicating device for inputting and outputting theinformation to and from another location via a portable digital device;and adding a charge unit to the existing image duplicating device forprocessing a charge for a service related to printing a certain portionof the information.
 60. The method of retrofitting an existing imageduplicating device into a remote printer processing unit according toclaim 59 wherein the communication unit is connected to the portabledigital device via wireless communication.
 61. The method ofretrofitting an existing image duplicating device into a remote printerprocessing unit according to claim 59 wherein the communication unit isconnected to the portable digital device via a cable.
 62. The method ofretrofitting an existing image duplicating device into a remote printerprocessing unit according to claim 59 wherein the processing unitreceives a set of print parameters including a number of copies, a printout size, a print material, a print resolution level, and a print speed.63. The method of retrofitting an existing image duplicating device intoa remote printer processing unit according to claim 59 wherein thecharge unit offers a predetermined set of methods of payment of thecharge.
 64. The method of retrofitting an existing image duplicatingdevice into a remote printer processing unit according to claim 59wherein the charge unit accounts a profit according to a predeterminedset of rules. 65-72. (canceled)